Jenna Elfman to Star in Live-Action/CGI Pilot for ABC

by Cindy McLennan, February 24, 2016

Jenna Elfman will star in ABC‘s untitled live-action/CGI comedy pilot from The Goldbergs‘ Adam F. Goldberg, with executive producer David Guarascio, and animator Patrick Osborne, Deadline reports. Elfman’s last regular TV series role was as Joyce on Growing Up Fisher, which was cancelled by ABC after one season of 13 episodes.

In the pilot from Goldberg and Guarascio, Elfman plays the single Alice, an adult only child. Her life is up-ended when she falls for a divorced father of three (Stephen Schneider). It is then that her childhood imaginary friend, Mary, returns to Alice’s life. Update 5/13/2016: ABC has ordered the show to series, with the title Imaginary Mary.

Deadline says, “The imaginary friend was conceived as a CGI creation in a live-action environment.”

Elfman will play the live-action Alice, the relationship “expert” with a successful PR firm representing pro athletes. She fears she doesn’t have what it takes to make a serious relationship last, or the maternal instincts to be a somewhat adequate “mom type person.” But a new source of chaos emerges when Alice’s childhood imaginary friend (Mary) returns with her own opinion about what Alice should do. And since “Mary” represents Alice’s deepest darkest fears, her advice is simple: run.

Mary will be a CGI character, with casting underway for a high-profile actress to provide the voiceover. CGI on the potential series will be handled by Disney feature animator Patrick Osborne. Goldberg and Guarascio will pen the script and exec produce alongside their Happy Madison cohort on The Goldbergs, Doug Robinson. Shawn Levy will direct the pilot, which hails from Sony Pictures Television.

What do you think? Do you like the sound of this untitled comedy? What do you think of the casting, so far? Let us know, below.